It is an aspect of the human experience that the mind sometimes gets clouded. A clouded mind is not clear, concentration can become faulty, doubt and worry can come in. For some people it can be cloudy for so long that one may not see that their life could be otherwise, cloudy is just what it is, with occasional moments of relief.
When we don’t notice the clouds or we ignore them, then the mental turning, with its story, tends to run in the ‘background’ — part of the ‘unconscious’ patterns that can keep people feeling stuck in repeating cycles. And consciousness gets obscured by the mental clouds, even though it is consciousness that perceives the mind and worldly experience.
For those who really want the clarity to recognize freedom, it’s important to first notice that the mind is clouded. Because when we see this we are conscious enough to choose. And the choice is — to turn attention to inner quiet. Quiet consciousness is the dimension of Being.
If need be, use what ever technique you feel called to; meditation, yoga, chanting, whatever it takes to help focus attention toward inner quiet and stillness. That ‘place’ of inner quiet is really simple and not foreign — it is the true heart of yourself. And as consciousness stands out, it will ‘teach’ you. That is the true guru, the ‘sat-guru’, the revealer of the light of infinite Being.